Refrigerating apparatus with vertically slidable door means



March 13, 1956 GELFAND ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS WITH VERTICALLY SLIDABLE DOOR MEANS 4 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Jan. 18.- 1954 IN V EN TORS G.Sharpe LOUIS Geifa nd 42 Verlp-s March 13, 1 L. GELFAND ETAL REFRIGERATINC APPARATUS WITH VERTICAL-LY SLIDABLE DOOR MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1954 INVENTORS "g 2 Ver/ps G Sharpe BY Lou/S Ger/land March 13, 1956 L. GELFAND ET AL 2,737,781

- REFRIGERATING APPARATUS WITH VERTICAL-LY SLIDABLE DOOR MEANS Filed Jan. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 V l GINSVENTORS. er os ar 6 Y Lows G e lfand P March 13, 1956 1.. GELFAND ETAL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS WITH VERTICALLY SLIDABLE DOOR MEANS- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 18, 1954 my. 5 INVENTORS. Ver'los 6. 5h up: By Lou-i5 Gelfand Un m States Pat n r REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS WITH VERTI- CALLY SLIDABLE DOOR lVIEANS Application January 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,563

10 Claims. (Cl. 62-89) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a refrigerator for use in homes and the like forthe preservation of unfrozen foods.

,It is anobject of this invention to provide a novel refrigerator cabinet construction which makes it possible to store all of the foods at the most convenient height.

Another object of this invention is to provide a'refrigerator which reduces the amount of clearance required for opening the doors.

.More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a refrigerator in which the access opening is in the front and in which a pair of vertically slidable doors are provided for closing the access opening.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved .door operating mechanism for sliding refrigerator doors which cams the doors into firm sealing engagement with the door opening when the doors are in the closed position and which releases the pressure between the door and the door engaging surface during the opening movement of the door.

A further object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator in which improved air circulation and illumination are provided in the food storage compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective embodiment ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view with part of the outer side panel broken away to show the door operating mechanism; a J

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the door seal at the meeting edges of the vertically sliding doors;

- Figure 4'is a fragmentary sectional view showing the door mounting mechanism;

.Figure 5 is an elevational view with parts'broken away showing the means forcamming the door into firm seal ing engagement at the end of the vertical travel of the door; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showingthe relationship betweenthe evaporator, the air deflecting panel and the illuminating means. I

Referring now to the drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the. invention has been shown, reference numeral 10 generally designates a cabinet having a food storage 'compartment'14 therein provided with a from access opening adjacent which a pair of vertically movable doors 16 and 18 are provided as shown. A volatile refrigerant system is used for refrigerating the food storage compartment "-14 and includes a plate type' evaporator 20 located adjacent the upper right rear corner of the food storage compartment. A conventional motor- -compressor unit 22 is provided for withdrawing vaporized view showing a preferred refrigerant from the evaporator 20 and for discharging it into a condenser 24 located adjacent the rear of the.

cabinet. The liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser 24 flows through a fixed restrictor 26 onits way to the plate type evaporator 20. A thermostat 28 located adjacent the lower edge of the plate evaporator 20 serves to operate a switch 30 which controls the starting and stopping of the compressor. The switch 30 and the thermostat 28 are so correlated that the compressor starts operating when the bulb 28 exceeds 34 and continues to operate until the temperature of the evaporator 20 falls below 2. By virtue of the above described control arrangement the plate evaporator 20 defrosts itself during each 01f cycle.

To facilitate the circulation of air within the food storage compartment 14, a transparent plastic baflle 32 has been provided in front of the evaporator 20 so as to cooperate with the rear wall of the food storage compartment in forming an air flue. The relatively warm air from the upper portion of the food storage compartment passes down between the baflie and the rear wall of the food storage compartment on both sides of the evaporator 20 so as to be cooled thereby and-then discharges out through one or more apertures 34 adjacent the bottom of the flue as shown in Figures 1 and 6. A pair of fluorescent tube type lamps 36 and 38 have been provided as'shownin Figures 1 and 6 to provide improved illumination within the food storage compartment and these extend substantially the full length of the baffle 32. The rear face of the transparent plastic panel 32 has a roughened surface which may be produced by sand blasting or any other similar process with the result that this plate gives the effect of being an illuminated panel. This panel effectively conceals the plate evaporator and prevents one from placing foods or containers in direct contact with the evaporator.

It will be noted that the insulated food storage compartment 1 4 is located intermediate the top and the bottom of the cabinet 10. It will also be noted that the motor-compressor unit and the condenser are mounted adjacent the rear of .the insulated food storage compartment whereby uninsulated food shelves 40 and 42 are provided aboveand below the insulated food storage compartment respectively as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. For purposes of illustration, these shelves have been shown as open shelves whereas suitable door means could be provided. if desired for enclosing the shelves. The main refrigerator doors 16 and 18 move in front of these shelves in the open position of these doors.

The doors are automatically opened and closed by operating suitable control switches to be described more fully hereinafter. Separate door operating mechanism is provided for each door whereby it is possible to open the one door without opening the other door. As best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing the mechanism for operating the upper door 16 comprises an electric motor type. of drive generally designated by the reference numeral 44. The motor and its associated parts are mounted at the rear ofv the insulated food storage cornpartment and is adapted to drive a pulley or sprocket wheel 46 throughsuitable friction clutch means 48. The sprocket wheel 46 actuates an endless chain 50 which is located in the side wall of the cabinet 10 and this chain carries a bracket 60 which in turn actuates the door 16. The operating mechanism for the lower door 18 comprises an electric motor 52 which drives similar endless chain 54 through a sprocket wheel 56 and clutch 58. Thepower transmitting mechanism which connects the motors 44 and 52 to the endless chains include the necessary speed reducing means whereby the doors are operated at the desired speed. Since the speed reducing Patented Mar. .13, 1 956 means, friction clutches and the like are well known to those skilled in the art they will not 'be described in greater detail herein. Insofar as the broadest aspects of this invention are concerned the motor could drive-the chain directly or manual means could be used for opening and closing the doors. In order to simplify this description and avoid unnecessary duplication, the door actuating mechanism on only one side of the cabinet has been shown whereas a corresponding set of. sprocket wheels and drive chains are provided on the opposite side of the cabinet so as to actuate both ends of the doors.

Since the mechanism for actuating the lower door is similar in construction and operation to the mechanism for operating the upper door, only the mechanism for operating the upper door will be described with the understanding that a similar mechanism is provided for the lower door.

As best shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, a bracket 60 is secured to a portion of the endless chain 59 and this bracket has a forwardly extending projection 62 which extends out through a vertical slot 64 in the front edge of the side wall of the cabinet. The projection 62 carries a pair of rollers 66 which engage within a cam slot 68 in a bracket element 70 which is rigidly secured to the upper door. A sealing gasket 72 is provided on the inside of each of the doors at the side and top edges for providing a good seal between the door and the door jamb which in this case is the front edge of the insulated food Storage compartment. Leakage of air at the meeting edges of the doors 16 and 18 is prevented by means of a sealing gasket 74 which is arranged as shown in Figure 3. This gasket has been shown mounted on the lower edge of the upper door whereas it could equally well be mounted on the upper edge of the lower door insofar as its sealing ability is concerned. However, the advantage of placing it on the lower edge of the upper door is that it is desirable to have the upper surface of the lower door perfectly smooth in case any food should be spilled onto the door during the process of insertion or removal of articles from the food storage compartment.

One of the problems of using a sliding door for a refrigerator is that of providing a good seal when the doors are in the closed position without having the seal rub against the door frame as the door moves to the open position. In the construction shown, the door is first moved away from the door frame before the door moves to the open position and when the door moves to the closed position it is pulled firmly against the door frame after it has been moved to a position directly injfront of the door opening. In order to accomplish this result the guide bracket 70 for the rollers 66 is arranged at an angle so that when the door operating mechanism first begins to move to door opening position the rollers will ride in the slot provided in the bracket 70 so as to first cam the door outwardly away from the cabinet before the door begins to move vertically. This action is facilitated by a spring connection 80 which is provided between the actuator bracket 62 on the endless chain and the door 16 so as to at all times bias the rollers 66 toward the one end of the slot in the bracket 70.

Figure 5 of the drawing shows the upper door in the process of being closed. In order to make sure that the door stops at the correct position as it moves downwardly and in order to produce the desired inward move ment of the door at the end of the door closing operation the upper edge of the door is provided with a projecting stop element 82 which engages an abutment 84 on the cabinet. This stop arrangement then limits further vertical movement of the door. When this takes place, the continued movement of the endless chain and the bracket 62 secured thereto causes the rollers 66, which are secured to the bracket 62, to move downwardly in the slot with the result that the door is cammed inwardly and the spring 80 is stretched. A suitable limitswitch 86 stops further operation of the motor which drives the endless chain when the door operating bracket 60 has reached its desired limit of travel.

By virtue of the above described construction and operation the doors are held firmly against the door opening when the doors are closed and are then moved horizontally away from rubbing contact with the door frame before moving vertically to the open position. The main control switches for operating the automaticdoor operating mechanism are mounted adjacent the front edge of the cabinet as shown in Figure 1. An upper switch operating lever controls the upper door and a lower switch lever 162 controls the lower door. By pushing the intermediate member 104 both doors will operate in unison.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment provided with an access opening, a door jamb at said opening, a refrigerating system including an evaporator arranged in thermal exchange relationship with said food storage compartment, slidable door means for said opening, said slidable door means comprising a pair of vertically slidable sections movable toward and away from one another, and means for camming said doors against the said jamb in response to movement of said doors to closed position.

2. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet having a food storage compartment, a refrigerating system including an evaporator arranged in thermal exchange relationship with said food storage compartment, an access opening in one wall of said compartment having a sealing surface surrounding said opening, vertically slidable door means for closing said access opening, said door means including a first section movable upwardly and a second section movable downwardly, and means for moving said sections toward and away from said sealing surface.

3. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet including an insulated food storage compartment intermediate the top and bottom of said cabinet, said insulated food storage compartment having a front opening provided with vertically slidable doors, refrigerating means for said food storage compartment including a plate evaporator disposed adjacent the upper rear of said compartment, an air directing baflle in front of said plate evaporator and forming with the rear wall of said compartment an air flue, said bafile comprising a transparent plastic plate having a light deflecting rear surface, and means for directing light onto the front of said plate so as to illuminate the same and the interior of said compartment.

4. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet including an insulated food storage compartment intermediate the top and bottom of said cabinet, said insulated food storage compartment having a front opening provided with vertically slidable doors, refrigerating mechanism including an evaporator disposed in thermal exchange relationship with the interior of said insulated food storage compartment and refrigerant condensing means supported adjacent the rear of said insulated food storage compartment, and means for moving the doors from the closed position to the open position comprising means for first moving the doors horizontally away from the cabinet and then vertically.

5. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet including an insulated food storage compartment intermediate the top and bottom of said cabinet, said insulated food storage compartment having a front opening provided with vertically slidable doors, refrigerating mechanism including an evaporator disposed in thermal exchange relationship with the interior of said insulated food storage compartment and refrigerant condensing means'supported adjacent the rear of said insulated food storage compartment, and actuating mechanism for said vertically slidable door comprising motor means mounted behind said cabinet and power transmitting means connecting said motor means at the rear of said cabinet with the said slidable doors at the front of said cabinet.

6. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet including an insulated food storage compartment intermediate the top and bottom of said cabinet, said insulated food storage compartment having a front opening provided with vertically slidable doors, refrigerating mechanism including an evaporator disposed in thermal exchange relationship with the interior of said insulated food storage com partment and refrigerant condensing means supported adjacent the rear of said insulated food storage compartment, and actuating mechanism for said vertically slidable door comprising motor means mounted behind said cabinet and power transmitting means connecting said motor means with said slidable doors, said power transmitting means being mounted in the side walls of said cabinet.

7. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment provided with an access opening, a refrigerating system including an evaporator arranged in thermal exchange relationship with the contents of said food storage compartment, a pair of slidable doors for closing said access opening, first means including an electric switch for controlling the operation of one of 'said doors, second means including a second electric switch for independently controlling the operation of the other of said doors, and means for simultaneously operating both of said switches for operating said doors in unison.

8. In a refrigerator, a cabinet, said cabinet including an insulated food storage compartment, refrigerating means for said food storage compartment including a plate evaporator disposed adjacent the upper rear of said compartment, an air directing bafde in front of said plate evaporator and forming with the rear wall of said compartment an air flue, said bathe comprising a transparent plastic plate having a light deflecting rear surface, means for directing light onto the front of said plate so as to illuminate the same and the interior of said compartment,

said means for directing light onto said plate comprising 40 a fluorescent tube mounted adjacent one edge of said plate.

9. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment provided with an access opening, a door jamb at said opening, a refrigerating system including an evaporator arranged in thermal exchange relationship with said food storage compartment, slidable door means for said opening, said slidable door means comprising a slidable section movable relative to said door jamb, and means for camming said door means against the said jamb in response to movement of said doors to closed position.

10. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment provided with an access opening, a door jamb at said opening, a refrigerating system including an evaporator arranged in thermal exchange relationship with said food storage compartment, slidable door means for said opening, said slidable door means comprising a slidable section movable relative to said door jamb, actuator means for said slidable section, means for stopping the sliding movement of said section as said section moves in front of said access opening and means operable in response to stoppage of said section for camming said section against the said jamb.

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